Mondial du vent: the wingfoil World Cup in Leucate continues this Wednesday with French people there

Alex Gérard est qualifié en demi-finale. Mondial du Vent – Manu Morel

En profitant de parfaites conditions de vent, l’épreuve mondiale de wingfoil a débuté ce mardi dans le cadre du mondial du vent. Les demi-finales en freestyle ont lieu ce jeudi.

When the sun rose on Tuesday morning, they knew it was their turn. The wind was blowing strong enough on Coussoules beach in Leucate-La Franqui to start the competition. More than 45 knots was even more than what was needed but the riders weren't going to complain about it. On the contrary, they were allowed to jump into the water after two days of waiting.

The 27th edition of the Mondial du Vent could kick off the only French round of wingfoil, this new water sports where athletes launch themselves standing on an equipped board of a foil with an independent sail in the hands.

The French in the semi-final

Then the freestyle event could begin on the fresh water of Leucate. The sixty participants, many of them from France and others from all over the world, were divided into small groups. To appear in the next round, you had to perform the best tricks. At the end of great battles and a long day, five rounds for the men and three for the women made it possible to determine the qualifiers for the semi-finals.

On the women's side, unsurprisingly, world champion Nia Suardiaz was there. The Spaniard dominated the competition by performing the most impressive tricks.

In her wake, the 22-year-old Marseillaise Kylie Belloeuvre won her ticket for the last four where she will have to compete against Suardiaz and the German Christina König. Just like 13-year-old Guadeloupean Enoha Laurent: "The wind was super strong, she commented. I didn't think I would qualify but it happened. It will be difficult in the semi-finals but I will try to do my best."

Guénolé facing Macdonald

For the men, the French will be well represented in the semi-final with five riders out of eight in total. In the first round, the 2023 world vice-champion Malo Guénolé (18 years old) and Axel Gerard (15 years old) will challenge the Spaniard Xavier Corr and the reigning world champion, the American Christopher Macdonald (18 years).

In the other half, the Austrian Tomas Acherer will be alone against the Sigean rider Bastien Escofet (25 years old) and the French youth Luca Vuillermet (14 years old) and Noé Cuyala (16 years old).

Results and program

Wingfoil Freestyle World Cup, Semi-Finals
Men. Heat 1: Xavier Corr (ESP), Clément Hamon (FRA), Axel Gérard (FRA), Christopher Macdonald (USA). Heat 2: Bastien Escofet (FRA), Luca Vuillermet (FRA), Tomas Acherer (AUT), Noé Cuyala (FRA).

Women. Heat 1: Bowien Van Der Linden (HOL), Mar De Arce (ESP), Sofia Marchetti (ITA), Zara Maillard (SUI); Heat 2: Kylie Belloeuvre (FRA), Nia Suardiaz (ESP), Enoha Laurent (FRA), Christina König (ALL).

Thursday program
Wingfoil Slalom &agrave World Cup from 9 a.m.
Wingfoil Freestyle World Cup Semi-Finals à from 3 p.m.

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